Visualizing the Economies within Coastal Inundation Zones

Presenters: Polina Dineva, NOS OCM, Economist. Charlotte Tierney, Affiliate supporting NOAA

Abstract:
In early 2025, the NOAA Office for Coastal Management released the Employment in Coastal Inundation Zones (ECIZ) Visualization Tool showing data on businesses in coastal hazard areas. The tool includes coastal hazard footprints for FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA), hurricane storm surge, sea level rise, and tsunamis. It accompanies the ECIZ data that includes the number of businesses and employment in inundation zones by county and state. This information can be used by states, counties, floodplain managers, emergency managers and coastal managers to identify industries most at risk and the potential economic impact from interrupted economic activity as a result of coastal hazards.